What Do You Do With Your Gently Worn But Very Nice Indian Clothes?

1. Instead of buying whole sets as such, probably you could try mix and match. That way, you can come up with different combinations that won't bore you.
For Kurtis, I sometimes change the pant and duppatas so that it looks like a completely different set.
2. Since you live abroad, you could pass on the expensive sets to your cousins/ friends back home after few usages. You need to find someone who is willing to take them and not mix pride with this

 

Wait, what ?! Are you & your friends celebrities that would discard clothes so as to not repeat a look ? I can understand that celebs do that because of their image and because many times clothes are borrowed or sponsored by designers.

It is wasteful to throw out sarees just after 2-3 wears. Please consider pausing new purchases and instead try to reuse your older clothes. Sarees and some salwars never go out of style.

But if you still need to hand them off then take them on your next India trip and donate there.

 

It's quite a common practice even among my circle. The reason is that you don't want to be seen repeating the same over n over again in the same circle. As they are usually for some small / big events, you meet a lot of people n photographed a lot. It doesn't look or feel right to repeat it so many times.

 

If you have different groups of people, you can wear the same dress without looking like a repeat.

Mix n match - it really does work.
Accessorise it differently.

I also have a rotation cycle - so if I have worn an ethnic dress for the different groups of people. I keep it inside n pull it out after a while or even match with something different.

Ethnic wear tends to be pricey, esp the ones we get for events. It doesn't get worn out either due to very less usage. So I just have a system to use it right.

N ofcourse if I wana give it away, I do so to our maids or give it my ma or mil who then passes on to someone who needs it.

 

I have never ever discarded saris in good condition. I'll switch it up by wearing them with different fancy blouses and new jewelry. You can try to see if a consignment store will take the other clothes. Or do a clothes swap with friends.

 

I leave sarees with my mom, my sisters / aunt will use it, if they really like it. Otherwise mom will give it away to local village people. I have seen a few, wear it nicely and keep it for years in good condition.

 

I m living in India, I usually keep track of what I've worn for each event..so as long as that dress is not worn again for another event involving same people it's ok..after spending so much on ethnic wear Like grand sarees or salwars I usually store them well and use them again and again for different occasions while giving long gap between each use, as long as it fits...After spending so much I dont feel like giving it off unless I've used it several times.

 

This is the perfect time to introduce you to Tiffany Haddish's SNL monologue about repeating her $4000 Alexander McQueen dress .. even to the Oscars. Enjoy the laughs.

Begin at 3:19

Tiffany Haddish Monologue on 'Saturday Night Live'